Pulwama attack: Indian-Americans across US mourn soldiers' death

Participants urged the Indian government "to take steps to severely punish" the JeM and other terrorist organisations.

Pulwama Attack : Hundreds of Indian-Americans gathered in various US cities to mourn the killing of over 40 Indian soldiers in one of the worst terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

At least 41 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14 in a suicide attack claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group.

(Business Standard)

The attack has heightened bilateral tensions with both New Delhi and Islamabad calling back their envoys.

Expressing their outrage, hundreds of Indian-Americans gathered at the 9/11 memorial on the outskirts of Chicago on Sunday and urged that all nations need to stand together with India and the US in their fight against those carrying out such "heinous crimes".

In a joint resolution read out on the occasion, the participants held peaceful candle light protest in Naperville, Illinois and called upon Pakistan to "end immediately" support to all terrorist groups operating from its soil.

"We mourn the loss of 40 Indian security personnel at the hands of terrorists. This was an act of terror, an act of pure evil. We must be firm in the face of evil and terror," said Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in his address.

"The threat of terrorism is not stronger than either the will of the Indian people, the American people or the people of the world. Our will is stronger. We will deal firmly with terrorism. We will deal firmly with sponsors of terrorism. In this year of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, we will continue to be people of nonviolence, peace and we will continue to open our arms to those who seek to engage with us peacefully," he said.

"We will defend ourselves, but we will not change our own character," Krishnamoorthi said.

Similar events were held in Washington DC, New York, New Jersey, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Detroit, Tampa, Houston, and Phoenix.

Participants of the candle light protest urged the Indian government "to take steps to severely punish" the JeM and other terrorist organisations.

Expressing solidarity with people of India and with the government, the diaspora demanded that the UN designate JeM chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist.

Today the Indian community is grieving for those who have been killed and wounded in this inhuman attack, said Krishna Bansal, one of the organisers.

Pulwama remarks: Majithia, Sidhu in verbal duel; SAD burns latter's posters

Akali leaders led by Majithia burnt the photographs of Sidhu including those in which he is seen hugging the Pakistan Army chief, outside the House.

The Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal Monday sought dismissal of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for his "utterances" in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack even as Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia and the cricketer-turned-politician exchanged barbs in the House.

Before the start of the Punjab Budget session, Akali leaders led by Majithia burnt the photographs of Sidhu including those in which he is seen hugging the Pakistan Army chief, outside the House.

Sidhu visited Pakistan to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician, on August 18 last year.

"Before everything else, we want to know the clear stand of the Congress and the Punjab government. Do they condemn Pakistan Army Chief and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan," Majithia asked while speaking to reporters outside the House.

After passing a unanimous resolution in the House for condemning the Pulwama terror attack, Sidhu was still saying, "You cannot blame Pakistan, you cannot blame individual," Majithia remarked.

"We want Sidhu should be thrown out of the cabinet for his utterances," said former Akali minister.

As the Question Hour commenced, SAD-BJP MLAs stood up and raised slogans against Sidhu.

SAD-BJP legislators, who were wearing black badges, also tried to disrupt the reply of Sidhu by shouting slogans against him.

Sidhu and Majithia were even involved in a verbal duel even as the Speaker asked them not to disrupt the Question Hour.

Article Source BS

Pulwama terror attack: Like you, fire raging in my heart too, says PM Modi

The security cover of six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was withdrawn on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he shared the grief and outrage with the people of the nation in the wake of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

The prime minister, who was in this north Bihar town to launch a slew of projects, began his speech with a few lines in the local dialect Angika and paid tributes to two jawans from the state who died in the Pulwama attack.

“I salute and pay my tributes to Sanjay Kumar Sinha and Ratan Kumar Thakur. To the people who have gathered here, I would like to say the fire that is raging in your bosoms, is in my heart too,” Modi said, evoking a thunderous response from the crowds.

J&K withdraws security cover of six separatist leaders

The security cover of six separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was withdrawn Sunday, a decision that comes in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror strike in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, officials said.

Besides Mirwaiz, the security cover of Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi, Fazal Haq Qureshi and Shabir Shah has been withdrawn, they said.

While there was no categorisation of security for these leaders, the state government in consultation with the Centre had provided them ad hoc security, keeping in mind the threat to their lives from some militant groups.

Militants of Hizbul Mujahideen had killed Umar's father, Mirwaiz Farooq, in 1990 and Abdul Gani Lone in 2002.

According to the order, all security and vehicles provided to the separatists will stand withdrawn by Sunday evening. No security forces or cover will be provided, under any pretext, to them or any other separatists.

Business Standard